Hackers claiming to be members of hacking collective Anonymous take down thousands of Israeli websites

The activist hacker group Anonymous successfully disabled thousands of Israeli websites on Friday, in the midst of heightened tensions in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza.

Their mission, #OpsIsrael, had already infiltrated the database of Mashav– the Israeli Foreign Ministry’s international development program– and Israeli President Shimon Peres’s official government website.

While Anonymous has no official hierarchy or structure, members of the group have posted numerous updates about their cyberwarfare on Israeli websites. Every time a successful hack is reported, Twitter users, such as @YourAnonNews, tweet “Tango Down” and include a link to the “defaced” website.

‏”You can’t turn off an idea. #OpIsrael” @YourAnonnews wrote in a tweet on Friday.

Anonymous supports various causes, primarily those favoring government transparency, free speech and civil rights. Anonymous’ recent show of support for Palestine is apparently a response to recent threats by the Israeli government to shut down Internet access in the Gaza region.

“As the former dictator of Egypt Mubarack learned the hard way – we are ANONYMOUS and NO ONE shuts down the Internet on our watch. To the IDF and government of Israel we issue you this warning only once. Do NOT shut down the Internet into the ‘Occupied Territories’, [sic] and cease and desist from your terror upon the innocent people of Palestine or you will know the full and unbridled wrath of Anonymous. And like all the other evil governments that have faced our rage, you will NOT survive it unscathed.” Anonymous said in a recent press release.